Contents

Appearance and personality

Hodor is large and slow of wits, but is gentle and loyal to the Stark family. He is only capable of saying one word, Hodor.[1] The Stark children believed this to be his name, until enlightened by Old Nan, his great-grandmother, that his real name was in fact Walder.[2]

Hodor is over seven feet tall, he has brown eyes[3] and a brown beard.[4] It's been suggested by Osha that his large size is a result of giants blood.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

After Bran Stark's fall, he needs a way to move about the castle. Maester Luwin designs a basket that can be strapped to Hodor's back and in which Bran can be placed. Hodor served as Bran's way of transportation since. However, Hodor, being a simpleton, sometimes forgets that Bran is in the basket, which causes Bran moments of pain.[1]

A Storm of Swords

Hodor flees with Bran, Meera, and Jojen north toward the Wall. They eventually reach the Wall at the Nightfort and meet Samwell Tarly of the Night's Watch. He leads them through a secret door at the bottom of a well that takes them through to the north side of the Wall. There they meet Coldhands, an enigmatic figure of uncertain allegiance.[6]

A Dance with Dragons

They reach the cave of the three-eyed crow, but are ambushed by wights just outside the cave’s entrance. Bran wargs into Hodor to fight off the wights, but blacks out and wakes up again inside the cave. The cave is warded against White Walkers and wights, so Coldhands cannot accompany them inside. Inside the cave, the group meet the remaining Children of the Forest and the three-eyed crow.[7] While inside the cave, Bran continues to warg into Hodor to explore the deeper parts of the cave. Hodor has become used to Bran's presence in his mind, though he still feels fear when it happens and retreats to a place where Bran cannot reach him.[8]